Parts and tool catching device for outboard motors

ABSTRACT

A device for catching parts and tools when working on an outboard motor attached to a boat. This device consists of a sheet of material which is placed onto the housing of the outboard motor and includes hold-down clamps for securing it thereto. The device also has tension springs so that it will be adaptable to motors having no rail or ledge for fastening the device.

I Unlted States Patent 3,738,635

Ebert June 12, 1973 PARTS AND TOOL CATCHING DEVICE FOR 1,599,433 9/1926 Pickell 269/254 cs OUTBOARD MOTORS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Norman J. Ebert, West Shore Road, 352,049 4/1922 Germany 269/2 Ithaca, N.Y. Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon [22] Flled' 1971 Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond [21] Appl. No.: 123,989

-[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 269/15, 269/16 A device for catching parts and tools when working on [.51] Int. Cl ..B23q 3/00 an outboard motor attached to a boat. This device con- [58] Field of Search 269/2, 3, 6, l5, sists of a sheet of material which is placed onto the 269/16, 254, 269-321 A housing of the outboard motor and includes hold-down clamps for securing it thereto. The device also has ten- [56] References Cited sion springs so that it will be adaptable to motors hav- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing no rail or ledge for fastening the device.

951,506 I 3/1910 Meyer 269/15'X 1Claim,4Drawing Figures PAIENIED 3.738.635

INVENTOR. NORMAN .J. EBERT PARTS AND TOOL CATCI-IING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS This invention relates to outboard motor attachments, and more particularly to a parts and tool catching device for outboard motors.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide a device which will prevent the loss of parts and tools when working upon outboard motors secured to the boat in the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type described which will be semi-oval in shape and will have a similar shaped opening for receiving the upper extremity of the outboard motor housing and the device will have a concave shape at the top which will be covered with a suitable fabric or the like which will prevent the bouncing of parts and tools able to motors not having a ledge on the housing, the

forward endof the device being split and carrying a pair of tension springs which will springingly urge the ends together to thus engage the motor and render the device stationary thereon.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a parts and tool catching device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy 2 to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a'study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the present invnetion shown secured to an outboard motor, the portion of the outboard motor seen, being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the device shown in elevation and removed from the outboard motor;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one ofthe hold-down clamps shown in elevation and removed from the device of FIG. 1; and

' FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal view of one of the tension springs shown in elevation and removed from the device of FIG. 1.

According to this invention, a parts and tool catching device for outboard motor 11, is shown to consist of a semi-oval sheet 12 of masonite or other suitable material. Device 10 includes an opening 13 through which the upper housing of outboard motor 11 is received. Sheet 12 includes a plurality of spaced apart hold-down clamps 14 for securing device 10 to outboard motor 11 by engaging the rim or ledge of the housing (not shown). Hold-down clamps 14 include a handle portion 15 which is a continuation of the prong end 16 which engages the underside of the ridge of the motor housing. A spring 17 encircles the body portion of holddown clamps l4 and springs 17 includes a washer 18 at one end and a washer 19 at the other end, washer 19 being secured and is limited in upward movement by means of a cotter-key 20 which is carried transversely through the handle portion 15.

When the device 10 is placed on the outboard motor 11, the handles 15 are urged downward and the prong is rotated by means of the handle 15 until it engages the underside of the ledge of the housing of the motor and thus secures said device in place.

It will be noted that a secondary means for holding device 10 to outboard motor 11 includes a pair of parallel spaced apart tension springs 20 which are secured to the forward portion of sheet 12 at the separatable ends 21. Springs 20 serve to hold the device rigidly to outboard motor 11 in the event the housing thereof does not have a ridge on which to use the hold-down clamps 14.

It shall further be noted that sheet 12 has adhered to it a cushion sheet 22 which may be of cloth, felt or other suitable material in order to prevent the bounce of parts and tools when accidentally dropped on device 10, the device preventing parts and tools when dropped, from falling into water.

It shall still further be noted that when device 10 is held to an outboard motor 11 by means of the spring. 20', the opening 13 edge will include a rubber strip so as to provide friction and cushioning means against the peripheral surface of the outboard motor.

I claim:

1. A parts and tool catching device for an outboard motor, comprising in combination a semi-oval, U- shaped collar, for placement around said outboard motor so to catch parts and tools that are accidentally dropped while servicing said motor; said collar being comprised of a U-shaped sheet of masonite having a U- shaped resilient layer secured thereupon by adhesive, a primary clamping means to secure said collar to an upper housing of said motor, said primary clamping means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart holddown clamps, each hold-down clamp comprising a Z- shaped rod having its vertical center leg fitted through said collar, a coil spring positioned between a pair of washers being fitted around said center leg and placed above the upper side of said collar, the upper of said washers being prevented from upward movement by a transverse cotter key through an upper portion of said leg, an upper end leg of said Z-shaped rod serving as a handle for rotating, a lower end leg of said Z-shaped rod being slightly angled upwardly toward its terminal end so to engage a rim or ledge of said motor housing,

a secondary clamping means for securing said collar, to said motor, if said motor has no ridges for engagement by the first said clamping means, said secondary clamping means comprising a pair of parallel tension coil springs, each of which has its opposite ends secured to opposite ends of said U-shaped collar so to draw said collar ends to adjacent abuttment with each other, whereby an inner peripheral edge of said collar wraps completely around said motor housing, so that said collar is changed from a flat shape to a cupped, downwardly dished shape when said collar ends are drawn together, thereby preventing said dropped parts and tools from bouncing outwardly off said collar. 

1. A parts and tool catching device for an outboard motor, comprising in combination a semi-oval, U-shaped collar, for placement around said outboard motor so to catch parts and tools that are accidentally dropped while servicing said motor; said collar being comprised of a U-shaped sheet of masonite having a U-shaped resilient layer secured thereupon by adhesive, a primary clamping means to secure said collar to an upper housing of said motor, said primary clamping means comprising a plurality of spaced-apart hold-down clamps, each hold-down clamp comprising a Z-shaped rod having its vertical center leg fitted through said collar, a coil spring positioned between a pair of washers being fitted around said center leg and placed above the upper side of said collar, the upper of said washers being prevented from upward movement by a transverse cotter key through an upper portion of said leg, an upper end leg of said Z-shaped rod serving as a handle for rotating, a lower end leg of said Zshaped rod being slightly angled upwardly toward its terminal end so to engage a rim or ledge of said motor housing; a secondary clamping means for securing said collar, to said motor, if said motor has no ridges for engagement by the first said clamping means, said secondary clamping means comprising a pair of parallel tension coil springs, each of which has its opposite ends secured to opposite ends of said U-shaped collar so to draw said collar ends to adjacent abuttment with each other, whereby an inner peripheral edge of said collar wraps completely around said motor housing, so that said collar is changed from a flat shape to a cupped, downwardly dished shape when said collar ends are drawn together, thereby preventing said dropped parts and tools from bouncing outwardly off said collar. 